Posts from the ‘Crime’ Category

Who can forget what former sexpot Divina Valencia did to talent manager Dr. Rey dela Cruz (optometrist by profession) while guesting in the defunct celebrity talkshow, “Action, Fact and Humors” way back in the 90s? It was the first case of public violence caught on tape and shown live on TV: Divina Valencia hitting (Pukpuk) Rey dela Cruz with a microphone in the heat of the moment.

Now that the veteran Dr. Dela Cruz has passed away, heirs to his “pukpuk” throne are coming out. Here are they:

First, the poor Sheriff in Davao, Abe Andres.

Tormetor: Mayor Sarah Duterte (caught on vide0)

Second, the senior of the batch: Ramon “Mon” Tulfo.

Tormentor: Claudine Barreto (allegedly but caught on video)

Third, Showbiz writer Chito Alcid

Tormentor: Annabelle Rama (caught on video)

Fourth, MMDA Saturnino Fabros

Tormentor: Robert Blair Carabuena

At least, the Philippine version of crazy violence prone personalities are no near than their American counterparts, Colorado Batman massacre shooter James Eagan Holmes and Wisconsin Sikh temple mass murderer Wade Michael Page (now dining with Satan).

A law school student is no ordinary person. Just by passing the law school entrance exam, he cannot be dumb. By surviving the so-called “meat grinder” – the two semesters of freshman year law, he is able to prove that he has what it takes to endure the hardships of being a lawyer. By that time he is immune to the hellish life of preparation – studying for 3 hours each day for just one subject (a law student usually have 4 subjects a day). He is no longer stranger in devouring 5-10 Supreme Court decisions in one day (which is the minimum). As such he has no time for any other thing but to study. Even sleep is a luxury. No kidding, law school is hard work. But after four years of sacrifice, bliss is often attained when he passes the bar examination and become a full-pledged lawyer.

However, due to the worsening unemployment rate, entering the law school as a temporary phase has been the trend (instead of joining the ranks of the unemployed) . Add to this the number of graduates who are lured by the fascinating “Atty. Karen Jimeno” or “Atty. Adel Tamano” image that lawyers’ project, the number of law school freshmen has swelled. This led one old lawyer to comment: Whoa! The law school has become a fashion school with all the beautiful faces and short skirts going around.”

The increased number of spoiled brats who do not want to endure the normal hardships of law school translates to an increased number of young people joining law school fraternity. This is because they would rather skirt this hellish hardship that “mere barbarians” (non-opt to join law fraternities) by relying on fraternity brods. They have this mistaken thought that this will help them with the professors (who are fraternity brods). They also think that fraternity brods will spoon feed them with notes and tips, bar examination reviewers, and even test leakages (if any). For those with too much ambition and look far into the future, they hope that a brod in some big law office or government office will give them a job after they graduate. Worse, there are the shallow minded who think that being part of a law fraternity entitles him to chill out at their nook (“tambayan”) and wear their frat t-shirt or jackets: a chick magnet so they say.

With these advantages in mind, they are willing to endure what a normal law student would not even think about: risk their very lives just to be a part of a law fraternity.

So when they decide to join or even accept an invitation to be part of the brotherhood, they are deemed to have signed an automatic waiver against whatever hardship they will face. No one can say that being paddled or slapped is not part of the deal. At the very least, they will be subjected to psychological torture..err..test. But most of other say that this is peanuts compared to a hellish 4 year of law school without the spoon feeding.

Knowing fully their probable predicament in the hands of their brothers which has recently included possible death, these fraternity neophytes should understand the legal principle of in pari delicto. And if they get injured and even die in the process, they have no one to blame but themselves.

I was so intrigued with Michael Collin’s award winning documentary film “Give Up Tomorrow” that I went to see it.

Having known that the case went through the entire length of Philippine criminal justice system, I am pessimistic that the documentary film will do anything to reverse the adverse judgment against Filipino-Spaniard Francisco “Paco” Larranaga.

Yet, the documentary has once again revealed the two faces of Filipino Justice system and the cold realization that most of the time these are one and the same: both the accused and offended party are the victims.

In this case however, the common face is that of the accused/convict Larranaga and presiding judge, Martin Ocampo. Both are victims of stereotype.

Larranaga, who is popularly known as “Paco” has Spanish features that set him apart from regular Filipino boys. A little boy who just saw him on tv, exclaimed: “Wow, si Sabretooth!” pointing out to Paco’s striking resemblance to Liv Schreiber who played the comic character. Personally, I think Paco looks like bit screen villain Marco Polo Garcia!) Paco simply has that villainous look. His accusers can point at him as the culprit and the rest will easily believe. They easily believe that a bully of a rich kid can fly back and forth faraway cities of Manila and Cebu on a whim.

On the other hand, Judge Martin Ocampo looks like the hermitic magistrate – weird and dangerous with the gavel in his hand. I say he is the twin brother of deceased North Korean stalwart Kim Jung Ill. Like his Korean look-alike, Judge Ocampo would wear dark glasses in court and had no qualms in sending the entire defense team to jail. He was even described as somebody whose life revolved around his court room and allegedly estranged from his family. As such, it was easy for people to believe that Judge Ocampo to have taken his own life in a grand fashion – locking himself in a 4-star hotel then shooting his head with his own gun while examining himself in the mirror.

Due to the sensitive nature of the information to be revealed here, the names of people and concerned establishment are kept confidential. Yet, this should serve as a stern warning to tourists going to Boracay.

The Free 3 day accommodation you would not want to take!

Just last week (from April 14 to 18 or a mere period of 4 days) the Boracay Special Tourist Police have arrested two foreign nationals (same country) for alleged possession of prohibited drugs inside a popular night club along the white beach. According to the police blotter and official records, these two foreign nationals were caught by the night club’s security guard (same security guard for both incident) in possession of prohibited drugs. The latest foreign national caught supposedly bought his marijuana from a drug pusher inside the night club’s rest room. Funny though, it was reported that the notorious drug dealer was not caught. It was the poor foreign national (in his early 20s) who was allegedly caught in flagrante delicto after the security guard “subdued” him (the security guard allegedly hitting him in the throat and poking his revolver against him).

What the???

Two foreign nationals, same nationality.

Caught in a span of 4 days apart.

SAME SECURITY GUARD.

SAME KIND OF DRUG.

SAME NIGHT CLUB.

NO DRUG DEALER CAUGHT.

What the????

What is happening to Boracay?

Be careful, it might be the last party of your life!

What is simply concerning here (aside from the fact that drugs seem to proliferate in the island), is the fact that this popular night club’s management ( a popular hangout for foreigners) has not tightened its security and prevent drug dealers from supposedly dealing inside their restroom as what happened in the latest foreigner’s case. Why were they not able to catch the drug dealer? The admission by the security guard that the supposed drug transaction happened in the night club’s restroom is an admission of security laxity on the part of the establishment.

Be careful who to talk to while on the island.

The Filipino tourist industry players have to protect the foreign tourists who still plow in money into what most have already perceived as a slowly-decaying island. Just imagine the horrorific experience of a vacation totally gone wrong ( incarcerated in a tiny cell in Boracay island along with local criminal suspects!). The laxity of security personnel makes possible the entry of drug dealers inside clubs and establishments. It is just too tempting for vacationing tourists to sample cheap illegal drugs which are seemingly delivered to their doorsteps. They not knowing that mere possession of marijuana will surely entail “free accommodation” for three nights at the police detention center. Worse, it the drugs seized turns out positive, he has to cough out a stiff bail bond of P 200,000 at the very least (if the offense for the kind of drug possession is classified as bailable). If it the accused is found guilty by the drug court for drug possession, then its game over for his free-wheeling days!

Just a few months ago, I wrote a story about chinese national Gong Zhun Yan and his attempt to wrestle the handgun of a Manila Police District (MPD) police officer SPO1 Charles Duran (http://wp.me/p125bX-XD).

Well, MPD Officer SPO1 Charles Duran is in the news again.

This time, his now famous name is tied up with the tragic end of two poor soul self-confessed rapists, Cecilio Bacolo, 19, and Roderick Soliveres, 28:

The story was reported by Philippine Star newspaper:

Suspects in rape-slay of 7-year-old shot dead

MANILA, Philippines – The suspects in the rape and murder of a seven-year-old were shot dead during an alleged scuffle with Manila policemen in their detention cell at the Manila Police District’s homicide section Tuesday night.

Investigators told The STAR that Cecilio Bacolo, 19, and Roderick Soliveres, 28, suffered gunshot wounds in the head and chest.

Bacolo and Soliveres were arrested for the rape and killing of Ernieca Abando, a grade one pupil of the F. Ma. Guerrero Elementary School.

Initial reports stated that SPO1 Ramir Dimagiba, duty deck investigator, ordered the victims to dispose of four water containers used as prisoners’ urinals.

Dimagiba said that after opening the cell’s padlock, the two allegedly dropped the containers. Soliveres allegedly grabbed Dimagiba‘s gun that was in his waist.

He said the gun went off as they scuffled for its possession, hitting Bacolo – who tried to join the fray – in the chest.

Dimagiba claimed Soliveres succeeded in getting the gun “utilizing his power and height advantage” and shot him twice but missed.

The police report stated that Soliveres also aimed the gun on PO3 Rodel Benitez, who came to the aid of Dimagiba, but the latter shot the victim in the head.

The victims were rushed to the Philippine General Hospital but Bacolo died after a few minutes. Soliveres died at around 12:29 a.m. according to Dr. John Paul Nang.

The suspects, both members of the Sigue-Sigue Sputnik gang, owned up to the crime.

Bacolo said Soliveres had been eyeing the child for quite a while and was actually looking for a chance to molest her.

Bacolo said that at around 7:30 a.m. last Friday, he agreed to take Soliveres to Abando’s house after the former told him that he would give food to the girl.

The two took the girl with them, rode a jeep to Sta. Mesa and headed to a house on Pat Antonio street which turned out to be owned by Soliveres’ friend.

Bacolo said he left Soliveres and Abando inside a room and when he came back saw the girl naked from the waist down, gagged and with her wrists bound together. He said he believed that his companion had just raped the girl, so he took his turn.

After he was done, Soliveres came back with a nylon cord and strangled the girl. They then left and headed back to Paco.

During investigation, a certain Riza Escoto confirmed that she saw the suspects and the girl heading up to the fourth floor of the house between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Escoto told the police that at about 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. of the same day, she noticed the suspects coming out of the house without the victim.

The crime was discovered at around 9:20 p.m., almost 12 hours after it was committed, when the owner of the house arrived.

“The suspects apparently didn’t look like they were bothered by their conscience. We first arrested Bacolo, who pointed to his cohort’s whereabouts. They didn’t resist arrest,” said investigator SPO1 Charles John Duran.

So there you go…Another episode involving

SPO1 Charles John Duran!

Why is the Philippine National Police (PNP) not sending the bumbling SPO1 Duran to retraining when his negligence supposedly allowed the hand-cuffed Gong Zhun Yan to wrestle his gun while they were on their way to the office of inquest prosecutor? Surely, he like SPO1 Dimaguiba in this recent episode needs training to avoid similar situations from happening in the future (what if the suspects are able to SUCCESFULLY wrestle their service firearms and puts two in their head?).

But then SPO1 Duran and SPO1 Dimaguiba may not really need training. All they need is to BE CAREFUL next time….

Meaning – all they need is to avoid these “sticky” situations. Especially that Manila’s incumbent Mayor, Alfredo Lim has a colorful history of being accused as responsible for several alleged extra-judicial killings. In fact, he is often dubbed as “Dirty Harry.”

Palace: Freebies for Pagcor OK

Malacañang on Tuesday said there was nothing wrong with Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Chairman Cristino Naguiat accepting free accommodations and gifts from the Wynn chain of casino hotels as this was “an industry practice and saves expenses for the government.”

According to presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Naguiat did not personally profit from the freebies.

In a press briefing, Lacierda said President Benigno Aquino III had accepted Naguiat’s explanation on the matter which was revealed in a dispute between Wynn Resorts Ltd. chief executive Steve Wynn and Japanese gambling tycoon Kazuo Okada.

Wynn had accused Okada of making improper cash payments and gifts totaling about $110,000 to gaming regulators, including those in Philippines—in this case, Pagcor.

The report alleged that Pagcor officials had received dinners, Chanel bags and suites at Wynn Macau, all courtesy of Okada, chair of Universal Entertainment Corp.

“(The President has accepted Naguiat’s explanation) in the matter of being able to save on costs, that is beneficial to the government and chair Naguiat never profited from it personally anyway,” Lacierda said.

“Look, it’s cheaper for us: When they come here we pay for them and when we go there they pay for (our) accommodations. From that perspective, we save more on the cost,” he said.

Asked whether this kind of arrangement was not in conflict with the President’s clean governance campaign, Lacierda said there was no conflict because Okada had been granted a provisional license as far back as 2008 to do business with Pagcor.

(Source: Philippine Inquirer dated February 22, 2012)

Now, a reading of the provision on Indirect Bribery in the Revised Penal Code reads as follows:

Art. 211. Indirect bribery. — The penalties of prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods, and public censure shall be imposed upon any public officer who shall accept gifts offered to him by reason of his office. (As amended by Batas Pambansa Blg. 872, June 10, 1985).

Sec. 3. Corrupt practices of public officers. – In addition to acts or omissions of public officers already penalized by existing law, the following shall constitute corrupt practices of any public officer and are hereby declared to be unlawful:

xxx xxx xxx

(c) Directly or indirectly requesting or receiving any gift, present or other pecuniary or material benefit, for himself or for another, from any person for whom the public officer, in any manner or capacity, has secured or obtained, or will secure or obtain, any Government permit or license, in consideration for the help given or to be given, without prejudice to Section thirteen of this Act.

Still, another applicable provision in the Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees” should be taken into consideration:

Section 7. Prohibited Acts and Transactions. – In addition to acts and omissions of public officials and employees now prescribed in the Constitution and existing laws, the following shall constitute prohibited acts and transactions of any public official and employee and are hereby declared to be unlawful:

(d) Solicitation or acceptance of gifts. – Public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.

The Macau trip is seen to bring in Big time Gambling in the Philippines.

From the looks of it, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation Chairman and General Manager Cristino Naguiat can be CHARGED FOR GRAFT, INDIRECT BRIBERY and violation of the CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIAL. Mind you, graft charges against public officials have territorial effect, meaning even the offenses were allegedly committed abroad, these can be charged in the Philippines.

Now, if the Palace through lawyer Atty. Edwin Lacierda has the gall to defend Naguiat and describing what he did as mere”customary or a practice”, they might as well consider as normal the “gift-giving” that is happening at our government offices like the Bureau of Customs (Hi Mr. Elevado!) and even the National Bureau of Investigation (Hi Atty. Sison!).

The problem with Atty. Lacierda is he even twisted the law by saying that bribe receiving by Naguiat is even “BENEFICIAL TO THE GOVERNMENT!” DIOOSSKOOOPOOOO!!!

I thought that this is the very evil that President Benigno C. Aquino III wants to eradicated with his campaign slogan “Matuwin na Daan” or “Straight Road.”

Broken Vow? PAGCOR Chairman Naguiat is seen as one of the most trusted men of President Aquino.

Now, if Pnoy is fast on his guns to sack NBI Chief Magtanggol Gatdula when he was implicated in the shenanigans of his men, why will he not do the same against Naguiat who based on the Inquirer reporthas accepted dinners, Chanel bags and suites from gambling lord Kazuo Okada at Wynn Macau (is that all Mr. Okada?, how about the “splendid” massage services that Macau is known for?).

One of Macau’s traditional offer of hospitality:Free “Massage.”

Shame on you Mr. President if you let this bad example (and bad egg like Naguiat) slip through your fingers. In that occassion, you will be worse than your father and mother’s version of Renato Corona, President Ferdinand Marcos – who actually crafted this law against bribery and was strict against gift receiving during his time (at least on paper!).

(To translate and encapsulate SP01 Duran’s follies: He is one fumbling cop who can’t hold on to his papers and secure his pistol. Too bad for his prisoner – a lanky chinese whose wrists are cuffed – he got a free bullet for his suicide.)

Go was supposed to face charges of murder, theft and traffic violation. His car was seen on closed-circuit television camera ram into his girlfriend on January 14. He then got off his car and repeatedly stabbed her on the chest.

These cops talaga….what do they think of the Filipino viewing public? Aren’t they afraid of public backlash for this latest pulis patola antic? Regardless of the evil deeds of Gong Zhun Yan, he is still entitled to due process and has to be properly brought to the bar of the law.

Oh c’mon, SP01 Duran…do you really want us to believe that you lost your service pistol to a lanky chinese kid whose wrists are hand-cuffed (as shown by earlier video).

Are you still having a hangover with the now legendary pulis patola antic of the Quirino Hostage Massacre? No wonder the Chinese (including the Hong Kong nationals) do not trust you.

At the very least, the Philippine National Police (PNP) should discipline this bumbling police officer. Or tuck his gun safely to his waist with a staple wire.